Aid for Macaque Monkeys

Primate Sanctuary

The long-tailed macaques in Indonesia.
In Indonesia, primates can often be seen sold on the streets or kept as a pet, suffering. JAAN can help rescue them when they are protected species by Indonesian law, such as leafmonkey, slow lorises, gibbons. But we find most often the non-protected species; the long tailed and pig tailed macaques. Then, it’s a matter of welfare. We can, when the conditions are very extreme, rescue the primates based on bad welfare conditions yet this is very challenging when the owner is uncooperative. Also, due to the fact these primates are still not protected, the process of rescue, rehabilitation and release is extra challenging. Finding a safe release site is extremely hard.
And there are hundreds others for sale on the markets. And, for every monkey you buy, a new one will be caught from the wild, torn away brutally from its mum. Sometimes people buy a monkey out of pity. But in fact you are only fueling the trade.
So therefore we strongly advise to not buy any primate offered for sale.
JAAN has a long waiting list of primates in need of rescue who are chained and caged.
So, the problem is Indonesia has no regulations to protect macaque species! It’s damn wrong but it’s still reality.
And we strive to change this. We started by banning the dancing monkeys in Jakarta, we were able to stop this horrific cruelty. But, the campaign took us 5 years (2009-2014).
And now we strive to push for a total ban to sell and keep primates. Its a long struggle!
But we can’t afford to take all those monkeys in need of help, that’s the problem; even though we wished it was different.
Pushing the Indonesian government to protect ALL primates is what we can do.
You can help by spreading this news; write to local newspapers, explain your concerns!

JAAN does not agree with any primate being kept captive! Primates are wild animals, Not pets.
Primates are highly intelligent with complex social structures; they find it particular difficult to adapt to life as a pet.
The confines of primates leads to stereotypical (abnormal) behavior, such as pacing or even self-injurous behaviors including scratching, biting and hair pulling!
The diet of captive primates is very different of their natural diet leading to malnutrition and often also diabetes!
The psychological damage that occures in primates that have been kept as pets is shown when they are handed over to sanctuaries. These naturally social animals are often afraid of their own kind and need long term rehabilitation and care to integrate them in to a natural group so they can leave as they were meant to; with other monkeys.
This process is very costly and a long commitment for the rescue centers taking in the rescued primates!
Pet primates pose also a risk to public health and safety. Primates establish dominance hierarchies as part of their natural behavior.
When they are kept as pets, this can result in encounters where human family members are attacked, especially children.
As primates reach sexual maturity they may become unpredictable and aggressive and can inflict serious injuries through physical strength, scratches and bites.
These injuries carry high risks of disease.

But JAAN has no possibility to rescue them all; So JAAN has now started to strive coordinate with reported primate owners to take provide better welfare conditions while the primates are held captive.
This is done by JAAN’s mobile wildlife team.

Two macaque species in Indonesia, the crab-eating macaque and the pig-tailed macaque, are without protected status. In Indonesia, the live pet trade in macaques is very active and virtually all of the macaques offered for sale have been wild caught and are openly traded without permits.Not only the welfare of these monkeys is at stake here. The exploitation of these macaques also has secondary serious negative consequences for humans as they carry diseases contagious to humans.

Primary problem of the macaque trade

Welfare of the primates is at stake

Young macaques are caught from the forests by poachers and sold for a fairly cheap price – approximately rp. 70,000 ($7). These young macaque can be seen for sale in many places such as markets, pet shops, and in front of shopping malls by street vendors. The small macaques attract people because they look funny, cute and are cheap. Often many baby macaques are crowded together in small cages and are seen clinging to each other out of fear and stress.

After being sold, the macaques can be seen kept alone on short chains on the street or in front of the owner’;s house. While growing up to adulthood the chain often grows into the monkey’s skin, leading to pain from horrific infections and tetanus

Macaques are highly social creatures and in need of contact with others of their own kind. Therefore, keeping macaques in isolation is an extremely cruel practice. In many cases the macaques are tormented by people passing by who throw things at them or hit them with sticks. Some are plied with alcohol so that they will do funny things. Most receive poor nutrition such as left over rice and other human food not natural to the macaques.

Macaques have long, sharp canine teeth which can cause serious injury to people. Therefore, the canines are cut by traders with a common wire cutter to prevent the macaques from harming the people handling them. This crude dental practice causes great pain to the monkeys and often results in infection and even death

Secondary problem of the macaque trade

Risk towards owner and surrounding neighbours

After the macaques reach adulthood many of them are dumped (released with no where to go) by their owners because they are no longer little and cute. When macaques reach adulthood, they naturally become more aggressive (especially so if they have been abused) and then can’t be handled anymore. Owners don’t know what to do with them and so they just release them.

Dumped macaques will become wild ranging and become pests and hazards in urban areas where they normally would not exist. In some places these ex-pets have become a true problem. As the macaques used to be dependant on people, they will still approach humans to find their food.

Macaques carry many diseases which are transferable to humans including hepatitis and tuberculosis. Macaques kept as pets rarely receive vaccinations or other veterinary care. People should always stay well away from macaques they see on the street or in markets and they should NEVER purchase these animals to be kept as pets

A second chance!

Presently, there are 36 Macaques that have been released, socialized and divided in three groups on Penjaliran Island. Most individuals have adapted well to their new surroundings and are independent from people now, but some individuals still need to be given extra attention. For this reason, we have one caretaker on the island assuring their welfare.